Corporate support lifts for farmer

Corporate support lifts for farmer carbon efforts

As the world tries to haul itself closer to a zero-carbon position, farmers are increasingly coming under scrutiny for what their role will be in helping achieve that. With 37% of global emissions accounted for in food production, the pressure is on producers to have a pathway to lowering their contributions.

WORDS BY RICHARD RENNIE

Here in New Zealand global attention is focused on He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), the mechanism for pricing and allocating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. It represents a world first effort to recognise the “split gas” of methane and nitrous oxide separate from carbon dioxide, and an attempt to measure, price and reduce their production. But regardless of what government regulations will require, consumers are increasingly pushing for accountability in food sourcing. This is to the extent carbon measurement is becoming part of “business as usual” rather than an exceptional, premium offering from food producers. This is compelling the world’s largest food processing companies including Nestle, Unilever and Danone to incorporate zero carbon targets into their corporate culture, often combining it with aims to use regenerative farming techniques and lower impact farm systems to achieve that overall goal. Nestle has recognised 70% of its emissions lie in its raw material food production and has committed over NZ$2billion over the next five years to help farmers and growers transition to net carbon zero by 2050, and to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The company has a massive, complex network of 150,000 suppliers around the globe and 500,000 farmers producing crops ranging from cocoa to corn, milk to mangoes. Acknowledging the complexity and need to work alongside those growers the company has taken a “back to the soil” approach to reengineering its food supply sources under its “sustainability promise” launched a year ago. Technical support to help farmers move to a lower farming footprint now includes 1200 agronomists in 40 countries. Nestle’s agriculture head Paul Chapot says the company recognises the need to support farmers in making a transition in what is a biological system, one that takes longer to shift than any other part of the food processing chain.

“We need to support farmers during this transition which may last a few years.” The company’s work in its dairy sector highlights the investments being made, with dairying being Nestle’s largest raw material input. “Net carbon zero” dairy farms are now demonstrating practices that will be adopted more widely in coming years. For example, in Germany’s North Hesse region the company is working with 2800 farmer supplier co-operative Hochwald. All aspects of farm management from the herd, feed, waste, nutrition, and energy are broken down into centres for carbon reduction, incorporating local research groups and scientists for learnings to be adopted by all supplying farmers. In South Africa in the Western Cape Province, the company will have its first net carbon zero certified dairy farm by 2023, comprising of 1000 cows. The fourth-generation pasture-based family farm is reporting an 11% increase in milk solids per cow, 40% lower energy use and a 45% increase in soil carbon levels. In the United Kingdom, supermarket chain Tesco is piloting a new scheme for UK dairy farmers where they receive subsidies for growing more sustainable feed. Competing chain Morrisons now has a support programme for beef farmers to help them meet its net carbon zero target by 2030, five years ahead of the industry target. While New Zealand has justifiably claimed to be an efficient carbon emitter per kilogram of production, the rest of the world is rapidly catching up, with initiatives like the Nestle work highlighting just how quickly. Fonterra has set climate targets of a 30% reduction in manufacturing emissions by 2030, net zero from manufacturing by 2050, and no net increasing in dairying emissions between 2015 and 2030. As pressure mounts on farmers, both through government regulations and from customers’ expectations, farmers increasingly require expertise and support to help them transition to a lower emitting future. DairyNZ’s solutions and development leader Nick Tait emphasises there is no “one farm” solution to individual farms’ emissions reductions. Farm environment plans are forming the first step for all farms. He points to farmers working to reduce supplementary feeding, using genetics for lower methane emission cows and native plantings for farm sequestration as some key tools at hand. “Methane-mitigating inhibitors have been proven to reduce methane, and some of our research is focused on their use in New Zealand pasture-based systems. We are also researching early-life use of inhibitors in calves, to reduce the production of methanogens later in their life cycles.” Silver Fern Farms’ Net Carbon Zero Beef is now being marketed in United States and is one of the highest profile programmes in New Zealand that combines a strong, validated marketing claim with input to help farmers meet those claims. Silver Fern’s On Farm Sustainability Manager Ryan MacArthur says the company has invested in building up a farm extension team focused on supporting farmers through Nature Positive programmes. Part of the work includes identifying and mapping vegetation on the farm that sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “That mapping involves utilising AI and satellite analysis. We utilise historical imagery to age the vegetation and use AI to detect areas and species and calculate how much they have aged, and how much carbon is being sequestered.” He emphasises the carbon neutral claim is completely based off the farm’s ability to reduce and sequester emissions on-farm, rather than purchasing “offset” credits from other sources, something that makes the initiative unique at this stage. The vegetation sequestering carbon for the programme is certified, and validation provided through Toitu Envirocare. Ryan says the scheme has highlighted the variance in vegetation sequestration rates and opportunities across farms with large areas of indigenous scrub in hill blocks, while the flatter country comprises significant areas of shelter belts also capable of sequestration. He says farmers’ interest in being part of Silver Fern’s scheme has been strong, supporting the market led opportunities available. At this stage Silver Fern only markets beef in the US market, but lamb is soon to be launched, with venison also being considered. Meantime farmers receive support through company sponsored field days for the programme suppliers. “Getting tools into the hands of farmers to reduce emissions is a key focus for Silver Fern Farms and the reason we are one of the founding partners in the recently announced Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions.” The $330 million joint venture aims to build on the technology and tools available to New Zealand farmers, with members including all this country’s major agricultural processors, including Silver Fern, ANZCO, Fonterra, Ngai Tahu, Ravensdown and Synlait.